US embassy cable - 05ROME2179

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR PM AND L 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, IT, NATO, U.S FORCES IN ITALY 
SUBJECT: ITALY: SIGONELLA TA APPROVAL CRITICAL TO MIL-MIL 
RELATIONSHIP 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Emil Skodon. Reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Post wishes to highlight the importance to US-Italy 
relations of rapid approval in Washington of the 
just-concluded negotiations on the Sigonella Technical 
Arrangement.  The 1995 "Shell Agreement" stipulates that the 
US and Italy will negotiate technical arrangements (TA) for 
each Italian facility with a US force presence.  In mid-June, 
after 9 years of negotiation the first TA for Sigonella Naval 
Air Station in Sicily was completed and sent by EUCOM to 
Washington for final approval.  Expeditious approval and 
designation of authority to sign the Sig TA are critical to 
keeping our excellent mil-mil relationship functioning 
optimally.  The Sig TA is expected to be the example from 
which TAs for the other bases in Italy are crafted.  For 
several years the Italians, up to and including the D/CHOD, 
have been anxious to close on the Sig TA to the point that 
inability to conclude the negotiation threatened to become a 
serious bilateral irritant.  Italian officials told us 
bluntly that their willingness to approve various US military 
requests depended on getting the Sig TA completed. 
 
2. (C) Now, with the text in Washington for approval, Italy 
will continue to view our action on the Sig TA as a litmus 
test of our seriousness and our respect for the terms of our 
basing in Italy.  Considerable Italian frustration over the 
long Sig TA process visibly dissipated when the Italians 
learned at the June 16-17 Joint Military Commission meeting 
in Aviano that the document had been sent Washington for 
approval.  The Italians worry that the document may languish 
for months in Washington waiting for approval.  We should not 
let that happen.  Italy will begin staffing the document on 
their side (a process IDGS says should take no more than a 
few weeks) only once the US approves the text. 
 
3. (C) Having gotten this ball to the goal line, we need 
Washington to quickly move it in for the score.  Post urges 
Department, OSD and Joint Staff offices involved to give 
rapid and favorable consideration to approving the Sig TA. 
 
SKODON 
 
 
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 2005ROME02179 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL